Oral Retinoid Treatment of Human Papillomavirus Type 5-Induced Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis

To the Editor: We have successfully treated a patient with the severe form of epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) 1 with the oral aromatic retinoid RO-10-9359 (Roche). This form of EV is familial and characterized by widespread human papillomavirus Type 5(HPV-5)-induced benign, scaly plaques and flat, wart-like lesions beginning in childhood, and multiple skin cancers of the squamous-cell and Bowenoid in situ types. 1 HPV-5 is considered potentially oncogenic since all patients reported thus far with the severe form of EV have had skin cancers 2 , 3 and since the HPV-5 genome has been found in EV cancers by means of molecular hybridization. 3 Our patient, . . .